Whether you are studying for biology or English, using a practical method to increase long term retention is essential for every student as cramming the night before a test is bound to backfire. 

When it comes to maintaining one’s GPA, the number one question from every student is: How do I study? 

An important tip is to plan ahead of time. 

You only have twenty-four hours in a day, so most of it is spent on plans that you can’t control, such as school, sleep, and eating. The time that is excluded from these events is something you can control. Planning ahead of time increases memory and is proven to have successful results. As most students revise while others don’t, everyone has a devised plan to retain information. Three of the most effective study methods are the Feynman Technique, SQ3R Technique, and Retrieval Practice.

Feynman Technique

This study method allows students to revise the material into simpler terms. One would pretend to explain a piece of  information to a child that has no idea what the topic is about to enhance the student’s understanding. By doing this, they are more likely to connect ideas and make the concept easier to understand. Nobody has factual knowledge towards this method or scientific evidence to prove that students will initially pass. However, it allows the brain to create neural pathways to form connections. 

This is a method of active recall and summarization. How the method works is to first choose a concept that you can explain in simple terms. Write down everything you know about this topic. The next step is to explain what you know about the topic, specifically the information you wrote down, in your own words to a friend or a family member. This should include specific details about the topic to review the information that you critically understand and to assess what areas you need to improve on. Leading on to the next step, review the areas that you need to work on and study them. If there are any areas in your writing that are complex and hard to understand, go back and break it down into simpler terms. 

SQ3R Technique

This technique focuses on reading comprehension, which trains your brain to identify the most important parts of a text and to understand the main idea. There are five steps to this method: survey, question, read, recite, and review. This study method can be highly effective in classes that assign readings, especially English.

First, skim the text quickly and ask yourself, what can I learn from the text? Next, think about what you already know about the topic. You can use the Feynman Technique to explain further. Figure out what questions you have that can be answered in the text. This follows into the next step, which is to read the text and locate the information that you missed. Once you have done this, recall the key points in your own words and review. There are many ways to review, such as refining your notes to challenging areas, or revisiting questions and material. 

Retrieval Practice

Retrieval practice is the process of recalling information over time. This requires spaced repetition, which includes practicing a few minutes every day to recall information.  There are many different ways to practice this method, such as using previous practice tests or quizzes to test your knowledge, flashcards, or creating exam questions on your own. Previous assignments or quizzes are a great way to be prepared for an exam. They provide the necessary topics that need to be focused on, which increases your familiarity with the material. The material that is on these worksheets may be on the upcoming test as well. Creating flashcards is not only one of the most common study methods, but it’s among the most effective. Actively reviewing flashcards increases long term retention and helps you recognize which concepts need to be worked on. Creating exam questions is beneficial because it can help to familiarize yourself with the material and identify the complex areas that would be on a test. 

Learning how to manage your time and study effectively is a better option than studying more than you need to. A common misconception is that it’s guaranteed that a student will pass a test if they study for hours in one night. This can work in some cases; however it’s not recommended. It’s really the complete opposite, as the only thing that a student will be guaranteed is no sleep. They are bound to wake up groggy and less likely to retain information when the student’s physical and mental health aren’t doing so well.   

Every student has a different preference to how they study; however these methods are here to generate ideas.